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Sunday footy returns to Brookvale Oval this weekend as the Sea Eagles get ready to host the Newcastle Knights. Manly fans will be eager to see their beloved players return to the Northern Beaches venue after a long period of matches away from the stadium.

The Sea Eagles return home after another narrow victory over the Melbourne Storm, which was a huge boost after a torrid start to the 2015 campaign. They face a Newcastle side who after their four from four start have slumped to four consecutive defeats, leaving the Novocastrians sitting just outside the eight.

The Silvertails injury crisis continued last week when back rower, Jamie Buhrer was ruled out for the season with an ACL. In his absence Tom Symonds has come into the run on side, which left the door a jarred for Blake Leary to make his return to the first team on the bench. Along with this, Captain Jamie Lyon replaces the suspended Steve Matai.

The Knights are mostly unchanged from last week’s narrow defeat against the Cowboys at Hunter Stadium but welcome back, Beau Scott into the second row who has recovered from his ankle injury.

This will be the fourth time in a row these two have squared off at Brookvale Oval with the Sea Eagles winning all three previous encounters, which includes last years one point victory.

With Sea Eagles looking to keep pace with the rest of the competition and the Knights looking to avoid a fifth straight defeat, neither team can afford to slip up.

This Sunday is set to be an intense grudge match with both sides hungry for points.

Last time they met

Last time these two sides faced off was at Brookvale Oval and it was decided by a last second field goal from Halfback, Daly Cherry-Evans who stole the show and the match in narrow 15-14 victory.

Key Match ups

Justin Horo v Tariq Sims

This weekend will see the two enforcers in Justin Horo and Tariq Sims lock horns. Horo has been the one of the Sea Eagles best ball runners this season and has kept his spot in the first team after missing the first two games of the season. His rival, Tariq Sims, is well known for his hard running and don’t argue attitude. The back rower is regaining his form after missing the first few rounds through suspension and reminded everyone of his talents with an impressive representative performance for Country Origin last weekend. Expect the earth to move when these two units collide.

Daly Cherry-Evans v Jarrod Mullen

In the battle of the halves it’s the clash between halfback and five-eighth that most NRL fans will be eager to see. Daly Cherry-Evans was back to he mercurial best last week when he put in a man of the match performance against the Melbourne Storm and despite the teams results so far this season, the young halfback's stats are stronger than last year at this point in the season. He will need keep his form in check this week as well, when he comes up against tricky Novocastrian, Jarrod Mullen. The Knights will be looking to Mullen for inspiration as they look to get back to winning ways. Both players will be at the heart of their respective teams attacking foray and will both be eager to grab the two points for their sides.